With so much choice out there – from backpacking in Thailand to building schools in Africa - here are our top five destinations which take you away from the typical.

People are increasingly taking time out to experience a whole new world as part of a career break, retiring in top form or 'just because'.

Because taking a gap year is no longer just for those who are young, carefree and 'in between' studies.

Time Line

Top five gap year ideas

Reach you peak

Step out of your comfort zone and join Real Gap to take on the challenge of the Himalayan Mountains.

Combining adventure and scenery in dramatic fashion, a hike to the foot of Mount Everest will give you the best of both worlds, combining breath-taking landscapes with exhilarating activity.

Experience nature at its most enchanting on your way to the world’s tallest mountain and let the beauty of this unforgiving environment surprise you.

With expert Sherpas on hand to guide you through your Nepalese adventure, immerse yourself in new cultures and explore the world from fresh perspectives.

This 15-day trip starts from £1,049. Further details can be found here.

Tuk tuk time

A gap year is an opportunity to meet new people, to engage with their world and build connections around these shared experiences.

By exploring Northern Thailand behind the wheel of your own tuk tuk you have the chance to interact with the country as its residents do, to engage with the Thai way of life and share in the sights, sounds and experiences of the Thai people.

Along the way you will discover waterfalls, tribal villages and a national park.

You will have the opportunity to stay in traditional forest huts, as well as meeting the charming residents of an elephant home.

Put authenticity at the heart of your journey and let Gap 360 build the foundations of new friendships.

This 5- to 11-day trip starts from £529. Further details can be found here.

Make a difference

Taking a gap year does not mean leaving your career behind. Far from it.

It is a chance to share your skills, use them to enrich the lives of others and connect with people and places far removed from your everyday life.

Volunteering in Palestine may be for you.

By using your skills to deliver educational programmes, you could make a real and lasting difference to the lives of disadvantaged children.

Love Volunteers runs a four- to 12-week trip, from £246. Further details can be found here.

Share with sharks

Gap years are often credited as a way of ‘finding yourself’, but what about finding out about something else? Like sharks?

It is around a group of Fijian islands where you could be getting up close and personal to these fascinating creatures.

It is not only a chance to learn about an endangered species, and help discover ways to protect it, but also a chance for a rare and awe-inspiring experience in a world many would consider akin to paradise.

Join Frontier in fighting to save the sharks of the Fijian archipelago and let these beautiful creatures share their world with you.

This one- to 20-week trip starts from £1,145. Further details can be found here.

Camper van happy

If you’ve ever seen comedian Jack Whitehall’s Travels with my Father series, you will know gap years are not about hotels, first-class travel or extravagance.

At their heart they are about seeing, about soaking up as much of the world as it is possible to fit into one moment and taking the time to notice the details that usually pass you by.

Travelling across North America in a hand-painted camper van means you get to spend every day remembering why you love to travel.

This adventure will take you back to basics, but you will see so much of a country we often think we are familiar with.

Gap 360 is the place to head to in order to plan your adventure – anything from seven days to six months.

So if you’re suffering from a spot of winter blues, try packing a suitcase and heading off somewhere you’ll never forget.